Teaching children at school to exercise can cut obesity rates by a third

Teaching children at school to be physically active every day can cut the rate of overweight pupils by a third, say researchers.

Lessons in healthy eating and encouraging children to watch less TV curbs weight gain in just a year, according to new studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich.

Children in primary school who had daily reminders about healthy living gained 260g less body fat - the equivalent of a pack of butter - compared with those doing standard PE lessons.

Studies show children who are offered a daily diet of physical activity and healthy eating at school are less likely to be obese

Researchers claim the success of school-based programmes could halt the epidemic of obesity among youngsters, with teachers becoming new role models.

Around one in three schoolchildren in the UK is overweight or obese.

In a study of almost 300 pupils aged around 12, daily exercise lessons had a dramatic effect on their fitness and weight.

Half the children were given extra exercise in classes lasting about an hour, while the remainder continued with regular school sports of just two hours a week.

After a year, the percentage of overweight schoolchildren having exercise classes dropped from 13 to nine per cent.

There was no change among the other children, while a comparison with a specialist school doing 12 hours of high level exercise and competitive sports a week showed just two per cent were overweight.

There was also a significant improvement in physical fitness and lung function in pupils taking daily exercise, said researchers at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

A separate study looked at an obesity intervention programme for 1,000 primary schoolchildren aged seven to eight years.

Half were asked to cut down TV and computer viewing, and consumption of sugary drinks, while having extra tuition about healthy living at school.

They had 'key messages' about diet and exercise included in a range of lessons including maths and music, along with two five-to-seven minute sessions of exercise a day.

Their parents were sent letters about helping to prevent weight gain and the family was given homework, said Professor Martin Wabitsch, of the University of Ulm, Germany, who headed the study.

He said the findings showed less weight gain after a year among the children getting healthy living lessons, a reduction of 260g compared with similar children having normal lessons.

He said findings from the study were still being analysed but the 'active' children watched less TV, drank fewer sugary drinks and had slimmer waists.

'These interventions had a small but significant effect that's sustainable' he said.

Prof Wabitsh said preventive health for children had shifted from medicine to schools.

He said 'Vaccination is medical history, children spend a lot of time in school where we can change their eating and physical behaviour.

'It's not a duty so far for schools, but there could be a new role for teachers.

'They can be role models and guide children's behaviour as parents should do but don't do anymore.'

Currently, schools in England must cover healthy diets and lifestyles but only in science lessons.

PSHE (personal, social and health education), where teachers could cover the subject in more detail and give guidance on healthy eating, is not compulsory.

While the vast majority of schools include PSHE on their curriculum, they have discretion over the content of the lessons.

Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said the studies were very well conducted and intervened at key times in child development.

He said: 'Traditionally the ages of six to eight are seen as a risk point for later overweight and obesity. It is key that the school interventions are followed up with the parents as all the gains made at school can be negated if not followed at home as well.

'In the UK we have precious little education for parents about parenthood. Quite often parents don't know what to teach their children because weren't taught it in the first place.'

Dr Jeremy Pearson, assistant medical director of the British Heart Foundation charity, said involving teachers and parents was critical.

He said 'We have to intregrate lessons for the rest of your life into the school curriculum.

'We have to start early. I'm not sure how good the UK is at this and whether just planning more periods for games or running tracks is enough.

'The BHF does individual projects in schools but we need a nationwide approach from the Government that would lead to the take-up of programmes proven to be of some use.'